North Vermillion

North Vermillion High School has hired Don Helmick as the next Head Coach of the Lady Falcons Basketball program. Helmick was approved by the North Vermillion Board of School Trustees on Tuesday, May 19. When Athletic Director Martin Brown began the search for the next leader of the Lady Falcons program, one of the key qualities he wanted in the next head coach was experience. With Helmick’s hiring, North Vermillion is bringing in a proven coach with more than 500 games of head coaching experience and a long record of building competitive girls basketball programs. Helmick has served as a head coach at Cascade, Paoli, Caston, and Clinton Central. Over the course of his career, he has compiled 309 wins as a varsity girls basketball head coach. His teams have won sectional and regional championships, conference championships, and he has helped lead multiple programs to some of their most successful seasons. Most recently, Helmick served as the Head Girls Basketball Coach at Clinton Central, where he led the Bulldogs to a 90-32 record over five seasons. His 2023-24 team finished 25-2, won sectional and regional championships, and advanced to the semi-state championship game, finishing just three points shy of earning a trip to the state finals. His Clinton Central teams won 77 games over the past four seasons, including records of 25-2, 17-6, and 19-6 in his final three years. Those who know Helmick describe him as positive, organized, dedicated, and committed to the development of students and athletes. Former players emphasized the impact he has had on their lives, describing him as a coach who prepares his teams well, holds himself accountable, supports his athletes, and creates a positive environment while still pushing players to improve. “When we started this search, experience was one of the biggest things we were looking for,” Brown said. “Coach Helmick brings that experience to North Vermillion. He has led programs, developed players, built youth programs, and competed at a high level. We believe his background will be a tremendous asset to our girls basketball program, and we are excited to welcome him to North Vermillion.” Helmick will now begin the process of building relationships with returning players, incoming athletes, families, and the North Vermillion community as he takes over the Lady Falcons program.